Well, I think I will forever say I am a Californian. I have learned that I won't ever become an "okie" as they call it out here. There is just too much of me that loves california. But for fun I decided to give you a list of things that are great about oklahoma, things that are weird/annoying/difficult about oklahoma, and finally what I miss most in california.
Things that are great in Oklahoma:
1. We have a beautiful house and I get to live here with my amazing husband!
2. there is really NO traffic
3. it is very green here!
4. the people are very nice.
5. everything is cheaper, gas, clothes, groceries.
6. the sun sets at like 9pm (so much daylight!)
7. I am roughly 3 hours or less from some of my greatest Kanakuk friends!
8. Oklahoma City is about 10 minutes from us and there are a lot of really great resturants and movie theaters.
9. great country stations on the radio
10. we get to watch John's brother do the weather every morning (NBC)
11. McAlisters sweet tea!!!!! Oh it is so delicious!
12. Charleston restaurant, one of my favs
13. living close to john's family and friends.
14. Mathis Brothers furniture! So inexpensive and so nice!
Things that are weird/annoying/difficult about Oklahoma (please dont take this as unhappiness, just observations)
1. oklahomans are TERRIBLE drivers! They don't know how to merge onto the freeway, they just stop!!!
2. the weather is hot and sticky, with crazy thunderstorms along the way
3. there are SOOOOO many bugs! I feel like I am in the middle of the plague
4. COX Communications is just not the same...DVR is slower and doesn't have the same or enough features
5. the roads are not good, I question if they pay city taxes
6. the on ramps and off ramps on the highway are the dumbest things every, they twist and turn and then you basically feel like you are going to get sideswiped.
7. There are not as many, restaurants, starbucks, movie theaters, or malls to choose from.
Things I miss most about California
1. my family. I miss going to breakfast with my mom everymorning
2. our friends. I am sad that we can't say, yeah lets do dinner at our place
3. My c-groups girls. I am so sad I don't get to see them enter high school
4. hanging out with allison murray everyday!
5. I miss the staff at saddleback
6. the students at Wildside
7. the weather
8. the beach
9. IN N OUT, claim jumper, daphnes, sushi, bagels and brew, a starbucks on every corner!
10. the mall and the spectrum
11. driving on any street in orange county and having millions of memories
12. coffee meetings with my friends
13. the volunteers in wildside
14. monique, my hairstylist at legends II in RSM
15. Team lunch & meetings
I am sure there is more that I will notice here and miss there, I'll let you know when I find them!
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Friday, June 15, 2007
Wedding pictures are up!!!!
The pictures look so great! Brian Crane Photography is amazing! If you need a photographer for a wedding, call him! He was wonderful!
Ok so go to www.briancranephotography.com
and Enter site, next click on view photos, press "click here to view photos"
Then select Snyder & Miles wedding
fill out the Guest book and the password is mariah
If it doesn't let you view photos immediately select yes for them to let you know when they are ready!
Ok so go to www.briancranephotography.com
and Enter site, next click on view photos, press "click here to view photos"
Then select Snyder & Miles wedding
fill out the Guest book and the password is mariah
If it doesn't let you view photos immediately select yes for them to let you know when they are ready!
Well, I am on a new path...
Ok, well, as most of you know the plan was for me to start at Journey Church on monday as the Small Groups Director for College Journey. After a lot of prayer and conversations with John we decided to decline the position. There were many reasons, but the main one was that I am not ready to give up my passion for Junior high ministry especially junior high girls. John and I felt that we would be split between 2 different ministries, 2 different sets of students, volunteer, services, and events. The church was very understanding of our decision and appreciated that I wouldn't just take the job to have a job. John and I are excited to be a team and to improve the Junior High ministry and take it to a healthy level.
So...it now leaves me looking for employment. So fun! I have a few ides of what I am looking for, but I plan on going back to school in the fall, so hopefully I will find something with flexible hours. We would love and appreciate your prayers!!!
Mariah and John
So...it now leaves me looking for employment. So fun! I have a few ides of what I am looking for, but I plan on going back to school in the fall, so hopefully I will find something with flexible hours. We would love and appreciate your prayers!!!
Mariah and John
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
The last 2 days...
Pretty pathetic, but the last 2 days I have played a lot of Super Mario World on the Wii. So I decided today I need to be a little bit more productive. I need to run some errands, clean the house, and of course unpack more boxes. I will let you know at the end of the day what I really did!
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
today is a hard day...
Last night and today have been the hardest since the move to Oklahoma. I really miss home!
Camp: What was great, what was difficult, what was disgusting!
Well, John and I got home late sunday night from going to camp with student ministries at Journey church. I just sat down with my cup of coffee to fill you in on all the details. After you read this you may say...really you had fun! Let me just first say, "yes, it was fun...well sort of"...just read below!
What was great:
1. The workout I got (camp was super hilly)
2. The worship, was really fabulous, the band was soooo goood!
3. The senior pastor and teaching pastor spoke 2 of the nights and were amazingly clear! I thought it was great that they took the time to write a great message, drive 3 hours to get to camp, turn around and go preach this weekend.
4. They should the camp video in the main service at church
5. The busses were super nice and none of them broke down! We also watched Aladdin on the way up.
6. The small groups curriculum, messages at night, and students quiet time all tied in together, what a concept.
7. The cabins were air conditioned!!
8. The students were great!
What was difficult:
1. Being away from my new husband at night
2. SOOOOOO many bugs! I only got one bite some how, but I smelled like bug spray all week.
3. It was like 90 degrees and humid
4. I had 6th graders, which was great, but my patience was for sure tested
5. The fact that we had 6th grade (elementary), 7th/8th (junior high), and 9th-12th (high school students) WAAAYYY to big of gap.
6. Lights out was like 1am...way too late for 10 year olds and wake up was 645am for counselors
7. Small group and quiet time curriculum was great for juniors and seniors, way too long and difficult for everyone else
8. The competition, for whatever reason the teams wer high school against JH and Elementary. Surprisingly the young team won most of the games and won in the end, but the trash talk the HS students said to the young kids was uncalled for and really hard to control.
9. The time things were supposed to start/end was way off so the students were hanging out a lot.
10. There was no maltshop/inside place for students to hang out and play cards during freetime. They had a snack booth, where students could buy chips and soda and stuff. John and I found ourselves saying we missed Thousand pines a lot!
11. Free time activities were, swim in a 50 degree pool, play mini golf, play tennis, hang out in cabin (only if leader was there), or play a organized game on the upper field.
12. It was really hard to be at camp and not know many counselors, not be on staff, and not know many kids. I kept thinking I was seeing students from Saddleback. I saw Kyle Smith, the triplet to the Aungst twins, and Julia Petit, not really, but they sure looked alike!
What was disgusting:
1. 1st competition day:
a. game 1: syrup relay, students drink syrup, run to the other end and spit in cup, run back tag the next person. The
at the end of the game the leader (me) could have the option to drink the large cup for 2500 extra points. Yeah right,
I'm not doing that!
b. game 2: chocolate relay, students are carried by there leaders to a midpoint chocolate pool have to be dunked in and
carried the rest of the way. This one wasn't that disgusting, but I was exhausted by the end!
c. game 3: This one gets the prize! Bobbing for donuts, seems ok, in a pool of mustard, catchup, and mayo. SICK!!!
d. game 4: we actually didn't get the play it (thank goodness) all I know is it involved a kiddy pool of HAIR, yes HAIR!!
2. Camp food: Ok I use to think Thousand Pines was bad, HA, that is gourmet compared to this. I will give you some of the menu
Dinner: Rubber pork chops with potatoes and melted ice cream bar for desert
Lunch: Tuna cassarole (it was so gross)
Breakfast: 1 cold hard boiled egg, 1 tiny not fully cooked blueberry muffin, and a cup of apple sauce (REALLY!!!)
3. ok this actually made me almost throw up: we all know there is so much lost and found things at camp, well in order for students to pay attention to their belongings, they have whats called the "Cauldron of Consequences" students who stuff is found must pick out a card from a bucket to see their consequences, here's what they could have grabbed:
spell camp with their behind (funny)
eat and onion
or eat someone elses booger (spell?>) are you kiddding me, it was so gross!!!
Well, I hope that keeps you up to date with us, we did have fun, it was just different for us both!
What was great:
1. The workout I got (camp was super hilly)
2. The worship, was really fabulous, the band was soooo goood!
3. The senior pastor and teaching pastor spoke 2 of the nights and were amazingly clear! I thought it was great that they took the time to write a great message, drive 3 hours to get to camp, turn around and go preach this weekend.
4. They should the camp video in the main service at church
5. The busses were super nice and none of them broke down! We also watched Aladdin on the way up.
6. The small groups curriculum, messages at night, and students quiet time all tied in together, what a concept.
7. The cabins were air conditioned!!
8. The students were great!
What was difficult:
1. Being away from my new husband at night
2. SOOOOOO many bugs! I only got one bite some how, but I smelled like bug spray all week.
3. It was like 90 degrees and humid
4. I had 6th graders, which was great, but my patience was for sure tested
5. The fact that we had 6th grade (elementary), 7th/8th (junior high), and 9th-12th (high school students) WAAAYYY to big of gap.
6. Lights out was like 1am...way too late for 10 year olds and wake up was 645am for counselors
7. Small group and quiet time curriculum was great for juniors and seniors, way too long and difficult for everyone else
8. The competition, for whatever reason the teams wer high school against JH and Elementary. Surprisingly the young team won most of the games and won in the end, but the trash talk the HS students said to the young kids was uncalled for and really hard to control.
9. The time things were supposed to start/end was way off so the students were hanging out a lot.
10. There was no maltshop/inside place for students to hang out and play cards during freetime. They had a snack booth, where students could buy chips and soda and stuff. John and I found ourselves saying we missed Thousand pines a lot!
11. Free time activities were, swim in a 50 degree pool, play mini golf, play tennis, hang out in cabin (only if leader was there), or play a organized game on the upper field.
12. It was really hard to be at camp and not know many counselors, not be on staff, and not know many kids. I kept thinking I was seeing students from Saddleback. I saw Kyle Smith, the triplet to the Aungst twins, and Julia Petit, not really, but they sure looked alike!
What was disgusting:
1. 1st competition day:
a. game 1: syrup relay, students drink syrup, run to the other end and spit in cup, run back tag the next person. The
at the end of the game the leader (me) could have the option to drink the large cup for 2500 extra points. Yeah right,
I'm not doing that!
b. game 2: chocolate relay, students are carried by there leaders to a midpoint chocolate pool have to be dunked in and
carried the rest of the way. This one wasn't that disgusting, but I was exhausted by the end!
c. game 3: This one gets the prize! Bobbing for donuts, seems ok, in a pool of mustard, catchup, and mayo. SICK!!!
d. game 4: we actually didn't get the play it (thank goodness) all I know is it involved a kiddy pool of HAIR, yes HAIR!!
2. Camp food: Ok I use to think Thousand Pines was bad, HA, that is gourmet compared to this. I will give you some of the menu
Dinner: Rubber pork chops with potatoes and melted ice cream bar for desert
Lunch: Tuna cassarole (it was so gross)
Breakfast: 1 cold hard boiled egg, 1 tiny not fully cooked blueberry muffin, and a cup of apple sauce (REALLY!!!)
3. ok this actually made me almost throw up: we all know there is so much lost and found things at camp, well in order for students to pay attention to their belongings, they have whats called the "Cauldron of Consequences" students who stuff is found must pick out a card from a bucket to see their consequences, here's what they could have grabbed:
spell camp with their behind (funny)
eat and onion
or eat someone elses booger (spell?>) are you kiddding me, it was so gross!!!
Well, I hope that keeps you up to date with us, we did have fun, it was just different for us both!
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Quick update...
1. Ok well, we are leaving for camp tomorrow afternoon and I am actually a little nervous. It is a camp I have never been to, students I don't really know, and leaders I have never met. But I know the LORD will show up and it is going to be an awesome week! We get back sunday, so I will tell you all about it then!
2. Stephen Perry is in town!!! I am so excited to have our first overnight guests! He and his friend Dusty are heading home from Cali! I made dinner..woop woop! Delicious teryaki steak, rice, broccli, and finished off with mint chip ice cream cake! I did a pretty good job I might add. Taffy I used the rice cooker! Thanks bud!
3. I officially found out what my position will be at Journey Church! I will be on the college team as the small groups coordinator! Funny that I have the same title, just different ministry and church.
4. I miss my family and friends so much!! I'll let you know how camp is!
2. Stephen Perry is in town!!! I am so excited to have our first overnight guests! He and his friend Dusty are heading home from Cali! I made dinner..woop woop! Delicious teryaki steak, rice, broccli, and finished off with mint chip ice cream cake! I did a pretty good job I might add. Taffy I used the rice cooker! Thanks bud!
3. I officially found out what my position will be at Journey Church! I will be on the college team as the small groups coordinator! Funny that I have the same title, just different ministry and church.
4. I miss my family and friends so much!! I'll let you know how camp is!
Monday, June 4, 2007
check out our update...
check out our update on what we have been doing to the house at www.johnandmariah.blogspot.com
MIssing you all so much!
MIssing you all so much!
Thursday, May 31, 2007
the whole story....
Ok well, I have been waiting to blog about stuff until I find my camera cord to show you pics, but I just can't find it so I'll put up the pictures I don't have later. Anyway, let's start with my bachelorette party it was so much fun, me and my girlfriends went to the pool all day and layed out, then headed off to dinner at the block at orange, bowling at lucky strike, and then finished the night off by riding a bull...pretty thrilling if you ask me.
then came the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner...it was at that moment that I realized just how many people we had in the bridal party...24, anyway, as I looked around I was overwhelmed at the fact that I just love each and everyone of them standing and really couldn't imagine the day without them. Well, we finished up at the church and headed to Antonuccis for dinner. It was a blast, delicious food, great friends, and family! Then I had to say goodbye to my soon to be husband and the girls headed off to the Cheesecake factory for a quick snack. Then it was off to bed.
I surprisingly slept great and woke up to my sweet dad asking if I wanted pancakes! Delicioius! Then the day got going all my girls showed up, started hair and makeup, took pictures, and jumped in the Limo to head to the church! Hooray!
Then it was time and as soon as I heard the first song, I just started crying! As I walked down the isle, all I saw was John and nothing else! The ceremony was spectacular, KURT was amazing and SHAUN was fabulous. We couldn't have been more happy with how everything went. Nikki, Jade, and Amy played and sang beautiful!
The reception was a blast, we were overwhelmed when we walk in the room and saw all the people that came to support us! We are so grateful that you all could share in the day with us! Love you all so much! Ok, that's all the time I have, I will fill you in on honeymoon and Oklahoma a little bit later!
then came the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner...it was at that moment that I realized just how many people we had in the bridal party...24, anyway, as I looked around I was overwhelmed at the fact that I just love each and everyone of them standing and really couldn't imagine the day without them. Well, we finished up at the church and headed to Antonuccis for dinner. It was a blast, delicious food, great friends, and family! Then I had to say goodbye to my soon to be husband and the girls headed off to the Cheesecake factory for a quick snack. Then it was off to bed.
I surprisingly slept great and woke up to my sweet dad asking if I wanted pancakes! Delicioius! Then the day got going all my girls showed up, started hair and makeup, took pictures, and jumped in the Limo to head to the church! Hooray!
Then it was time and as soon as I heard the first song, I just started crying! As I walked down the isle, all I saw was John and nothing else! The ceremony was spectacular, KURT was amazing and SHAUN was fabulous. We couldn't have been more happy with how everything went. Nikki, Jade, and Amy played and sang beautiful!
The reception was a blast, we were overwhelmed when we walk in the room and saw all the people that came to support us! We are so grateful that you all could share in the day with us! Love you all so much! Ok, that's all the time I have, I will fill you in on honeymoon and Oklahoma a little bit later!
Monday, May 28, 2007
We finally have internet!!!
That is why I haven't blogged!! Ok well, we had a blast at the wedding, honeymoon, our quick stop in California, and being officially in Oklahoma. We have been working like crazy on our house, it's coming and hope to be completely moved in by next week. For now we have been lving with just a bed, card table and chairs, and my TV (of course)! Well, I promise to filll you in on the details of all the past few weeks tomorrow! For now I hope you are having a fabulous Memorial day!
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
2 days!
Well, it is 2 days before I walk down the aisle to the man of my dreams! I can't believe it has come up so quick. I am so excited for the day!! Thank you to those of you traveling so far to come! We have people coming from Australia, Israel, Oklahoma, Colorado, Texas, Tennessee, Washington DC, Seattle, Missouri, and of course Nor Cal! haha! I am so excited to see all of you! And all the people who will travel from Irvine, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, and RSM! Love you too!!
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
did you know that Saved by the Bell is still running!!!
Saved by The Bell, one of my favorite shows growing up still runs in the morning on TBS! Not gunna lie, it's usually on while I get ready in the morning!! And I remember most of the episodes, haha. Tune in!!
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